Acies quadrata

[Mark Hygate]

....................................'DRAWING UP A LEGION IN ORDER OF BATTLE ..................................

Is it just me, or is that (otherwise completely accurate quote from Vegetius) not pretty indicative of:

- He has a copy of Polybius in one hand, probably with Livy (already only partial?)
- A basic understanding of the Later Republican-Imperial Cohort-based legion
- Some idea of changes in weapons, armour and naming 100's of years later
- And not much idea at all about actual tactics beyond what he has read

For Vegetius really comes across as an arm-chair academic. A lot of what he writes seems awfully confused to me; although that doesn't mean it's not valuable in its entirety and there are some great snippets.

But it might just be me! Principes before hastati? I think he interprets the word and doesn't know the provenance.